Thankful

In honor of Thanksgiving I thought it would be appropriate to write about things I'm very thankful for this Thanksgiving. 

The most Important thing I'm thankful for is my relationship with God. I'm so happy that it has grown more then what I ever thought was possible. The best part is knowing that it isn't even over yet!
I'm thankful for my wonderful dad. Without him I honestly don't who I would be. He has taught me so much. I've been so blessed to have such a great dad. 
I'm thankful for my best friends. Because without them I wouldn't be as crazy as I am now. 
I'm so thankful for fresh starts. Because honestly I felt like i didn't even deserve one but God gave me a chance. 
I'm thankful for my new sisters:Gina and Kaci! I'm so glad that I know what its like to have big sisters who you can just talk to!
I'm thankful for younglife. Without it I wouldn't have such great friends who Love Jesus so much. 
I'm thankful I was able to help bless little babies in other countries with gifts for christmas. 
I'm thankful for Taylor Swift and her wonderful music…it's gotten me through awesome memories and healed me with my heartache this past year. 
I'm thankful with being able to serve others in so many different ways. 
I'm thankful I was able to hand water out to survivors at race for the cure. 
I'm thankful I've been the bigger person this year when it came to certain friendship. 
I'm thankful to have my best friend Sean in my life. 
I'm thankful for the Polancos,Gills,Thomasons and Gatewoods. They've given me a reason to be a better person. 
I'm thankful for the stupid boy who fooled me and played with my heart. I know better now. It's really good to know how boys can be. 

Most importantly I'm thankful for the eyes that are reading this blog right now. 

Love 
Briana

Serving

I've been striving to make my relationship with God so much stronger, I let him guide me on how to do so. It wasn't until this summer that he really lead me to serving others. I had been approached about going on a mission trip to the valley for a full week to help one of the top five poorest cities in the United states. At first I didn't want to go just because we would be five miles away from the valley and I didn't want to die. Plus coming up with the money would be a challenge because the trip was quickly approaching. My best friends really wanted me to go because it would be such a good experience for me. It would make me realize how well we had it over here. God works in mysteries ways. A week prior to the trip I had my graduation party. Many family members and friends gave me great gifts and donations to whatever I wanted to buy. The next week I was at VBS and everyone was talking about how excited they were to be leaving for the mission trip on Sunday. I then thought to myself that I finally had enough money to go should I? I was worried for my safety. That Thursday night I prayed so hard on what to do. I asked God to lead me in such a way that my heart would let me know what was right. I came up with conclusion that it was my calling to go and serve people who need it most. And that God would keep me and everyone going safe because we were serving him and serving others. I'm not going to lie it still frightened me knowing how close we would be to the boarder but when I got to meet the kids and the family we would be helping that seemed like such a small problem. 

Walking in to the Colonia (neighborhood) my eyes were full of shock. These families were living in poverty. Houses were the size of my living room or smaller. What surprised me the most was how much happiness each family had even though they were in that situation. How even though they might not have the nicest things God still provided just enough for them to get by. I thought wow, if I was in this position it would be so hard for me to even smile. I knew then that every person I would meet that week would be so much stronger and better then me. 

That week changed my life. I fell in love with every child that came my way. I became a shoulder for a mother to lean on when she felt she had nothing. But she has her faith and that's what keeps her going. It broke my heart leaving all the beautiful people I had met that week. There is not one day that I don't think about them, hoping and praying that they are okay. As winter draws closer I wonder how they will stay warm. I can't wait to go back next summer and love on everyone and new babies and families I will meet. God kept me safe and that's when I knew that he wanted me to start serving because not only did it make me feel good but I was serving him and that's all I ever want to do. 

God has been blessing me with opportunities to serve locally. Which is very cool. Because there are many families here in our City who need just as much help. I recently went with a bunch of friends to a soup kitchen it was so rewarding. We were helping stop hunger just for a day. How rewarding is that? Very! God is changing me more and more through every opportunity that comes my way. I crave opportunities to serve. For Christmas I'm researching non-profits such as noonday, toms and Krochet kids to give as Christmas gifts to others. If you hear of anything that would help me continuing on what God has called me to do please let me know.

Thanks for reading! I'm really enjoying this and can't wait to write more.
Love
Briana
"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men."-Ephesians 6:7